Media Release

Hawaiʻi Island police are investigating the discovery of a body in waters off Kalapana in the Puna district.

At 6:28 a.m. Tuesday (May 28), personnel from the Hawaiʻi Police Department and Hawaiʻi Fire Department responded to a report of a body caught in a fishing line from a nearby fishing boat in the ocean off one of the lava viewing areas. Another vessel in the area contacted authorities and remained with the body until divers from the Fire Department and their helicopter recovered the remains and met with police at a temporary landing zone.

Detectives from the Area 1 Criminal Investigations Section responded to the location and are continuing the investigation, which is classified as a coroners inquest.

The body is that of a Caucasian female possibly in her late 20s or early 30s, about 5-foot-4 to 5-foot-8 with a slim build, short brown hair and a tattoo of “Veritas” on her lower back. Detectives are reviewing recent missing persons records in an attempt to identify the female.

Police have not ruled out foul play. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday morning to determine the exact cause of death.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.